A Novel Direction-Finding Algorithm for Directional Borehole Radar

A directional borehole radar system has been developed for the purpose of 3-D imaging of subsurface targets in a single-hole measurement. The radar system is equipped with a uniform circular array consisting of four dipole antennas as a receiver in order to realize azimuth bearing sensitivity. We propose a new direction-finding (DF) algorithm that is suitable for directional borehole radar measurement, and we apply this algorithm to actual field measurement data. This algorithm is based on the Adcock DF antenna principle where the complex time series (analytic signal) expression, the optimization, and the filtering procedure are incorporated to provide more accurate estimation. The algorithm was first verified in a transmission measurement in boreholes with a cross-hole configuration (15 m apart from each other) by estimating a direction of the incident wave from a transmitter to the receiver. Finally, the algorithm was applied to single-hole measurement data to demonstrate the ability to detect the 3-D location of a subsurface tunnel which was located 5.5 m from the borehole. The result showed fairly good agreement with the actual location of the tunnel, i.e., to an azimuth estimation error of within 10deg.     

Pyroelectric infrared sensors made of La-modified PbTiO3 thin films and their applications

Abstract

High sensitive pyroelectric infrared (IR) sensors have been fabricated by using c-axis oriented La-modified PbTiO₃ (Pb_1–xLa_xTi_1?x/4O₃, PLT) thin films. The PLT thin films were deposited on (100)-cleaved MgO single crystal substrates by intermittent rf-magnetron sputtering method. The PLT thin films have high figures of merit for IR sensor without a poling treatment. High performance pyroelectric IR sensors (single element type and linear array type) were fabricated by using PLT (x=0·1, γ=5·5x10^?8 C/cm²K, ?_r=200) thin films. The sensors have remarkably high D* of 3–6x10⁸ cmHz^1/2/W and very fast response. A new compact IR sensing system using the linear array sensor (8 elements) has been developed for a new type of room air-conditioner. This system can measure thermal distribution (8x64) by horizontal scanning of the vertical linear array. Image processing with neural network concept makes possible high-accuracy using a few data from the sensor elements. This sensing system provides ‘‘smart airconditioning'’to improve the comfortable control.     

Preparation of (001)-oriented Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 thin films and their piezoelectric applications

Preparation of (001)-oriented Pb(Zr,Ti)O(3) (PZT) thin films and their applications to a sensor and actuators were investigated. These thin films, which have a composition close to the morphotropic phase boundary, were epitaxially grown on (100)MgO single-crystal substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. These (001)-oriented PZT thin films could be obtained on various kinds of substrates, such as glass and Si, by introducing (100)-oriented MgO buffer layers. In addition, the (001) oriented PZT thin films could be obtained on Si substrates without buffer layers by optimizing the sputtering conditions. All of these thin films showed excellent piezoelectric properties without the need for poling treatment. The PZT thin films on the MgO substrates had a high piezoelectric coefficient, d(31), of -100 pm/V, and an extremely low relative dielectric constant, epsilon(r), of 240. The PZT thin films on Si substrate had a very high d(31) of -150 pm/V and an epsilon(r) = 700. These PZT thin films were applied to an angular rate sensor with a tuning fork in a car navigation system, to a dual-stage actuator for positioning the magnetic head of a high-density hard disk drive, and to an actuator for an inkjet printer head for industrial on-demand printers.     

Effect of pore size of self-organized honeycomb-patterned polymer films on spreading, focal adhesion, proliferation, and function of endothelial cells

The design of nano- and microstructures based on self-organization is a key area of research in the search for new materials, and it has a variety of potential applications in tissue engineering scaffolds. We have reported a honeycomb-patterned polymer film (honeycomb film) with highly regular pores that is formed by self-organization. This study describes the behavior of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) on honeycomb films with four different pore sizes (5, 9, 12, and 16 microm) as well as on a flat film. We examined the influence of the honeycomb pattern and pore size on cell behavior. The changes in cell morphologies, actin filaments, vinculin clusters, cell proliferation, and secreted extracellular matrix (ECM) (fibronectin, laminin, type IV collagen, and elastin) production profiles were observed by using optical, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy. The ECs that adhered to the flat film showed an elongated morphology with random orientation; the actin filaments and focal adhesions were not conspicuous. On the other hand, the ECs on the honeycomb films exhibited greater spreading and flattening; the degree of spreading of the ECs increased with an increase in the pore size. The actin filaments and focal adhesions appeared conspicuous, and the focal adhesions localized along the edge of the honeycomb pores were distributed over the entire projected cell area. The honeycomb film with a pore size of 5 microm showed the highest cell proliferation and ECM production profiles. These results suggest that the honeycomb film is a suitable material for designing a new vascular device.     

Unified surface anchoring strength from the splay elastic deformation in nematic slabs

Film thickness dependences of the unified surface anchoring strengths from the splay deformation for nematic cells were discussed. Thin nematic parallel (d = 2-50 μm) and wedge (d = 0.3-5 μm) cells with the same solid surface were prepared to evaluate the surface anchoring strength. The surface anchoring strengths from the splay deformations for two kinds of liquid crystals were measured by using the saturation method. The nematogens used were 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl and mixture compound ZLI-4792 (Merck Japan Co., Ltd.) with positive dielectric anisotropy. Film thickness dependence of the surface anchoring strength was elucidated on the basis of the conventional ionic surface polarization. It was also discussed that a surface anchoring strength from the splay deformation is to be an intrinsic value defined at an interfacial region and not a value changing with the film thickness.     

Assay to screen for molecules that associate with Alzheimer's related beta-amyloid fibrils

Small molecules that bind to aggregated forms of Abeta peptides show promise as potential in vivo labeling agents for the diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease. A major challenge in developing potential imaging agents that target Abeta is to rapidly identify and evaluate the association of molecules with insoluble deposits of aggregated Abeta peptides. This paper describes a simple, parallel method to rapidly screen libraries of molecules for their ability to associate with fibrils formed from synthetic Abeta peptides by monitoring their ability to inhibit the interaction of a monoclonal anti-Abeta IgG with these fibrils. We demonstrate that this assay can detect the association of small molecules with Abeta fibrils at concentrations of small molecule in the nanomolar to millimolar range. By comparing results from the screening of a small set of 30 compounds, we illustrated that this assay can rapidly analyze the relative affinity of small molecules for Abeta fibrils and identified eight compounds that can bind to Abeta fibrils at <20 microM concentrations. Significant advantages of this assay are (1) the ability to screen structurally diverse molecules without requiring them to have specific spectroscopic or radiolabeled properties, (2) the ability to estimate the percentage of the surface of the fibrils covered by the small molecules, and (3) the ability to detect the association of small molecules that potentially bind to different sites along the fibril axis. This assay also has minimal requirements for equipment or specialized facilities and should, therefore, be useful for both academic and industrial laboratories.     

Extraction of yarn positional information from three-dimensional CT image of textile fabric using a yarn model for its structure analysis

This paper proposes a novel method for analyzing a textile fabric structure to extract positional information regarding each yarn using three-dimensional X-ray computed tomography (3D CT) image. Positional relationship among the yarns can be reconstructed using the extracted yarn positional information. In this paper, a sequence of points on the center line of each yarn of the sample is defined as the yarn positional information, since the sequence can be regarded as the representative position of the yarn. The sequence is extracted by tracing the yarn. The yarn is traced by estimating the yarn center and direction and correlating the yarn part of the 3D CT image with a 3D yarn model, which is moved along the estimated yarn direction. The trajectory of the center of the yarn model corresponds to the positional information of the yarn. The application of the proposed method is shown by experimentally applying the proposed method to a 3D CT image of a double-layered woven fabric. Furthermore, the experimental results for a plain knitted fabric show that this method can be applied to even knitted fabrics.     

Development of an automation system for single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping using bio-strand, a new three-dimensional microarray

Previously, we developed a novel three-dimensional microarray system called Bio-Strand, which may be used in various applications including single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping. In Bio-Strand, samples for detection are immobilized on a one-dimensional thread, which is wound around a cylinder-shaped core to form a three-dimensional thread-and-core structure. The thread-and-core structure is then inserted into a plastic pipette tip, where hybridization and detection are performed. In this study, we have developed an automation system, NIAGALA Bio-Station SDx, which enables automated hybridization and detection during the genotyping procedure using Bio-Strand. Using this system, we have performed the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of CYP2C, one of the important human cytochrome P450 genes and the results were completely consistent with the genotyping results determined by the TaqMan method.     

Improvement of sweating model in 2-Node Model and its application to thermal safety for hot environments

Recently, due to global warming and the heat-island effect, more and more people are exposed to the dangers of heat disorders. A hot thermal environment can be evaluated using various indices, such as new Standard Effective Temperature (SET^∗) using the 2-Node Model (2 NM), Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), Predicted Heat Strain (PHS) model, and so on. The authors aim to develop a safety evaluation approach for hot environments. Subject experiments are performed in a laboratory to comprehend the physiological response of the human body. The results are compared with the computed values from the 2 NM and PHS models, and improved the sweating model in 2 NM in order to take into account the relationship with metabolic rate. A demonstration is provided of using the new sweating model for evaluating thermal safety in a hot environment.     

Enantioselective hydrogenation of (E)-α-phenylcinnamic acid with cinchonidine-modified Pd/TiO2: influence of solvents and additives

Both the enantioselectivity and activity of the hydrogenation of (E)-α-phenylcinnamic acid with cinchonidine-modified Pd catalysts are strongly solvent dependent; polar solvents with higher solubility for the substrate are preferable. The simultaneous increases in the enantioselectivity and activity, also induced by the addition of either a small amount of water to aprotic solvents or an amine such as benzylamine, indicate that preferential acceleration of the selective reaction has occurred, thus strongly suggesting the importance of the product desorption step on the modified sites. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.